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LESD Board of Trustees Appoints a New Leader

Lawndale, CA, May 8, 2017– The Lawndale Elementary School District (LESD) Board of Trustees is proud and excited to announce the selection of Dr. Betsy Hamilton as the new Superintendent for the Lawndale Elementary School District starting in the 2017-18 school year. Dr. Hamilton has served as LESD’s Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services for the past seven years, and from the onset, her vision to serve as an agent for change was clear. Her daily work has focused on supporting all students’ needs and she strives to ensure that Lawndale students receive access to a rigorous instructional program with effective differentiated supports. Under Dr. Hamilton’s direction, the Lawndale Educational Services team has added a contingent of teacher leaders who focus on coaching and supporting instruction for all students.

Dr. Hamilton is a dedicated professional that has devoted her life to improving the lives of others through high-quality education. Recently, The Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Region XIV selected Dr. Betsy Hamilton as the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services of the Year. The award is presented annually to recognize an individual’s outstanding performance, achievement, and commitment to the public-school system.

“Everyone in our District, from staff to stakeholders to students, admires and respects Dr. Hamilton. Her passion and drive to raise the bar and close learning gaps for students in the public education system have been a source of inspiration for colleagues. Dr. Hamilton believes all students have unlimited potential and she has done an outstanding job in developing educational programs that create the opportunities and challenges that will elevate our scholars to the next level. The students and staff of the Lawndale Elementary School District will be fortunate to have Dr. Hamilton at the helm of the District,” said Dr. Ellen Dougherty, LESD’s current Superintendent, who will retire at the end of June.

Dr. Hamilton’s work will focus on student achievement and on the District’s commitment to closing the achievement gap—continuing Dr. Dougherty’s legacy and working from the foundations she has set in place in the District over the past eight years.